Recovery After Rhinoplasty

Whether your nose surgery was for cosmetic or functional reasons, the goal is to recover as soon as possible without complications. Dr. Beaty knows that a successful recovery is a critical component of your overall rhinoplasty experience. While there are some obvious things — don’t head a soccer ball!! — there are some nuances to a successful recovery after rhinoplasty.

Your initial recovery will take two weeks or more, although you will have some residual swelling for a few weeks. Here are some tips for a successful, speedy recovery from this popular cosmetic procedure:

Limit facial muscle movements— This sounds obvious, but during your recovery you need to limit things such as laughing and smiling (only hang out with your more boring friends and no Netflix comedians!). Be careful not to open your mouth too wide. Keep your nose from stretching too much or from being hit. Opt for food that is easy to chew; postpone having foods like steak that require more chewing.

Protect your nose from the sun— Unprotected sun exposure can cause permanent discoloration in your nose after rhinoplasty. If you’re having rhinoplasty during our toasty Atlanta summer, you’ll be happy to spend more time indoors anyway! If you do go out, apply 30+ spf sunscreen and wear protective clothing. You don’t want “a little sun.”

Choose the right clothes— During recovery, choose clothes that won’t possibly have physical contact with the nose area. Also, don’t wear sunglasses or reading glasses. If you need regular glasses tape them above your bridge. Avoid tops that must be pulled over your head, such as sweaters and t-shirts. Button-down shirts are your best choice as you recover, as they minimize nose movement and possible bumping while dressing.

Keep the exercise light— You may be a fitness junkie, but you need to switch to lighter workouts for a while. Obviously, up and down impacts aren’t good, so move to low-impact stuff during your recovery. Also, don’t participate in sports that put you at risk of hitting your nose. Lastly, your nose will feel tender during recovery, which makes swimming, diving, and similar exercise a temporary no-no until you’re fully healed.

With patience and attention, gracefully recovering from rhinoplasty is easy. You may be frustrated with residual swelling that returns particularly at night, but that will pass. Dr. Beaty will explain the best practices for your recovery, so that you will be pleased with your new nose for the rest of your life. Contact Dr. Beaty at (770) 753-0053 to schedule your consultation.